Chisoxfn

This is the rumor per a poster on WSI who scooped the Quentin trade earlier this offseason: According to him, this is per someone he talked to within the Angels front office. Let me just say that if there was any truth to that, I will be sending Kenny a thank you card directly to US Cellular with me never ever saying a bad thing about Kenny ever again. The only way I could possibly see any truth to this sort of deal is if Wilson is a nobody (Honestly I couldn't even tell you who the hell this Wilson guy is, aside from the fact that his name is Bobby Wilson and he is a catcher on the Angels 40 man roster, but I'm going to assume he's a warm body of some sort). Santana has to have almost zero value in the Angels minds and they just want to be rid of him and Speir must have almost zero value as the Angels would be trying to get rid of his contract (he was hurt last season and very unproductive, so maybe this is true). That would basically make it Figgins & Kendrick for Konerko with Crede/Shelby (Shelby has value, so that should be pointed out) going for guys that have little value in the Angels mind (Santana, Spier, Wilson). Again, I see absolutely no logic in this move unless of course the Angels have Santana with damn near zero value and Spier with a negative trade value. From the Sox perspective it all makes sense. Figgins plays CF, Kendrick plays 2B, Santana enters the rotation, Spier teams up with Linebrink to give you a couple proven middle relievers (the pen, if the guys were all healthy and productive would have a chance of being flat nasty) and obviously Swisher moves to 1B. Richar/Uribe are still on the roster and one would probably be moved (or Richar would just stick in the minors for another year being groomed potentially as a SS??). From the Angels side I guess it gives them a legit 3b & 1B when healthy. Defensively the Angels massively upgrade at 3B (a healthy Crede is one of the best in the game at the hot corner and the Angels defense at the hot corner has been shoddy for a number of years). Konerko obviously gives them middle of the order protection. On paper the Angels do become a better team with this deal, but they are giving up an awful lot as well (basically this would be a sign of the Angels feeling heavy pressure to win the series now and maybe Moreno has put that sort of pressure on Scioscia and the new GM Reagins).

QUOTE(ptatc @ Jan 5, 2008 -> 07:32 AM) If Konerko is involved in a deal, the primary objective will be starting pitching. The idea of targeting kendrick is off base. It will be for pitching and whatever else the the other team will include. If the above rumors are true, I hope KW has another plan to spin Mathews elsewhewre. He really doesn't have a place on this team besides the fact he isn't very good. You know KW is working plans to trade both Crede and Uribe. So there are still a couple of trades to come. Kenny all along has indicated that he is happy with the rotation. There have been no rumors swirling about the Sox picking up any sort of starting pitching this off-season. I know as fans we are all scared to death about the 3/4/5's in the rotation and logically it would make sense to improve in that regard but Kenny seems pretty confident in a good chunk of the young guys and he also knows most of them are right at the point where they are practically major league ready (Egbert/Broadway/Floyd/Danks are all capable of starting right now, same with Charlie Haeger...whether they are successful or not, who knows). Bottom line I still say we've heard rumors/rumblings about the deal so it probably won't happen (given how quiet every one of Kenny's moves that were actually made have been this off-season) but I would be thrilled with almost any deal that had Kendrick/Santana coming to Chicago (barring some ridiculous inclusion of a Buerhle or Vazquez). One other thing to consider is maybe the Angels would want Juan Uribe. With Cabrera gone the Angels believe they have Wood/Aybar/Itzuris who are capable in the middle infield but it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a guy like Juan who is a vaccuum in the field and offensively would have little pressure (if they added Konerko to that offense the contributions at SS/2B would be very minimal as long as those guys fielded and Juan would do exactly that). Maybe Crede isn't the target, rather Juan and PK.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jan 5, 2008 -> 07:31 AM) Rotoworld update From the original article... I've been wanting to get Santana in a deal for some time, getting Kendrick would be nuts. However, this has to be BS bc if the deal were Konerko for Kendrick and Santana, you don't try to get Figgins to, you take what you can get. I couldn't see 3 guys going back, unless of course the Sox send someone else back the Angels way and it would have to bea pretty substantial something else to get Figgins, Santana, and Kendrick. My guess is the Angels are countering with Santana/Figgins and the Sox are saying Kendrick/Santana. I know I love the upside of both individuals the Sox would get in the Kendrick/Santana deal and I would be willing to make such a move. It should also be noted that after making such a move the Sox would clearly have a substantial amount of financial flexibility to go after a major impact player and sign such player if they really wanted to. In an ideal world, maybe you are able to get Kendrick/Santana/Figgins for Konerko and Crede but that would never happen and thus the Sox could maybe maybe hope to expand the deal to include Rivera or Willits which would give the Sox more options for CF.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 11:44 PM) Well this made me more of a fan. Fruity Pebbles are the best. Fruity Pebbles ROCK

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 11:42 PM) I'm pretty much right there with you on this whole idea. I just don't think there is any possible way we could get Kendrick away from them. I don't either. I'm starting to be less and less sold on Danny Richar though and it makes me want to get a new 2nd baseman that is young (with Richar switch to a platoon role along with Ramirez and Uribe/Crede on the way out for prospects that have fallen out of love.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 11:33 PM) Alright man, time to get out of dream world. Hey, I don't really think the Angels are an ideal partner anymore, but any deal that involves Santana and one of Kendrick/Figgins is fine with me. I'd prefer Kendrick over Figgins because of age and the pure ability. The one key is whether Matthews JR would actually be considered a negative trade chip (from the Angels perspective) in the sense that the Angels would give up more just to be rid of Sarge Jr. Plus if the Sox dealt Konerko and got Matthews Jr, leadoff hitter (Willits or Figgins or Kendrick), Santana (or Saunders), and cash (depending on who the guys are the Sox got, they would possibly need cash) I would be happy. I know Matthews Jr. has a horrid contract and it is a major risk, but I think it would be worth it to get the extra pitcher and a legit top of the order bat. I would obviously ask for either Kendrick or Saunders (if I didn't get Kendrick than I'd take Santana, but if I didn't get Kendrick and instead got Willits I'd try to pry Saunders because he is further away from FA). Defensively I would like an outfield with Quentin/Matthews JR/Dye (in fact flip flop Dye and Quentin with Dye in LF and that is a damn good defensive outfield). Swisher at 1B and Figgins plays 2B. Again I'm not saying it happens but who knows, maybe the Sox deal Crede in the package as well to get rid of his contract. Again, without the Sox getting one of the Angels big money outfielders I don't see a deal going down. But I'd love it if a couple of those names came the Sox way that is for sure.

QUOTE(BaseballNick @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 08:27 PM) Per Rotoworld If the Sox were willing to eat the contract of Matthews JR and they than got Kendrick and Santana (or Figgins and Santana) on top of things I'd be a big believer in such a deal. Matthews Jr. has major question-marks but if the Angels threw a bit of cash to the Sox I'd take the contract just to get the other pieces involved (Santana means only one of Danks/Floyd are in the 5th spot) and the lineup would be absolutely stellar, imo.

QUOTE(JFields27 @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 07:17 PM) Yeah well its still very raw obviously. I dont know what my thoughts on it would be because I would probably have to see it first heh, but I might be ok with something like Figgins, Santana, and a spec or something convincing. It instantly puts this team in another viewpoint, Swisher to first, Figgins brings a true centerfielder, speed, and a leadoff man. If we got Santana and Kendrick, which I think looks like it would not happen, I would not see the sense in that trade because Kendrick is definitely not a leadoff man unless someone can throw some stats up to show me wrong but from what I have seen he has only hit from the 6 to 9 slots and last season only had 5 stolen bases. That trade would just kick Richar out of a starting spot and have to ask someone like Owens to play center and leadoff for us and if he shows something in spring training that he could on that responsibility then more power to him Howie Kendrick is quite possibly the best pure hitting prospect in all of baseball (ie in terms of a pure average standpoint). I'd live with him hitting practically anywhere in the lineup for the next 10 years, imo. Kendrick, Santana, Figgins would be a stellar move. In fact, Kendrick, Santana, Willits would work completely fine with me (or anyone else for that matter). Hell if the Sox had to throw something else in so be it.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 04:45 PM) And then will be on probation for the next 5 years. You heard THAT here 1st. (probably 143rd person who has said it) The beauty is that he knows he has to be clean cause he's going to be under so much scrutiny.

QUOTE(CubsSuck1 @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 11:57 AM) Please, just give me Swisher. If I've learned anything from this team's recent history, its that the return we get from our so-called top prospects is so low that it makes no sense not to trade the kids away for established major league players. For every Chris Young (who despite solid power numbers, failed to hit even .240 last year) there are countless Rauches, Honels, Borchards, Reeds, and Hummels. Let us not forget the collective hard-on this board had for Reed and Borchard circa 03/04, and the caliber of a player we could have got in return in a package deal had we traded them away when they were in hot demand. Why gamble with prospects who have such a low track record when there are teams looking to eat them up in return for players who are almost guaranteed to produce? I couldn't agree more. I give credit to Kenny for selling a good number of those guys on a high and I think we may end up finding out he did the same with DSL. Of course we would all be cringing if he turned into Pedro but technically you take that type of chance anytime you get rid of anyone and one day the odds are there that you end up giving up one of those guys but you just hope you win more trades than you lose. On a side note, good seeing ya around here, hope all is well.

I'm excited...UCLA under Neuheisel will end up competing with USC. You heard it here first.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 02:34 PM) I agree, he is a high energy guy that brings excitement to the team. That is contagious too. You have to think the other players are excited to have him too. I got to admit, I love the OC/Swisher/Quentin moves and understand the Linebrink one (I don't think Linebrink is very good, but you can't argue his past numbers and can only hope that he ends up pitching good...the years were too much but you can't deny the Sox had a major hole in the pen). No one knows if it will be enough, but the Sox have went out and brought in good guys who are good baseball players and in the case of Swisher/Quentin they will be here for a good number of years.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 02:27 PM) After Swisher's phone dropped him a second time they just sort of ended the interview. About 5 minutes late Swisher called back off the air to apologize, twice. I just love getting those type of guys on your team. It makes it fun to root for. I really am getting excited for baseball season because unlike last year, this years team at least has some guys that I really look forward to watching play the game. I also think they have some young guys with talent and if they develop the Sox may end up surprising.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 01:49 PM) Rescue Dawn is such an amazing story. Not only Bale, but Davies and Zahn are so good in it. Rescue Dawn was awesome. I can't wait for 3:10 to Yuma to come out on DVD so I can watch that.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 01:47 PM) Thought those of you looking at Colon might find this interesting. He truly is a Semi-Colon, unable to crack 90 on the radar yet unless he is driving to Pizza Hut. Semi-Colon, Bartolo that is ... Interesting, I still remember his start against the Sox late last season where he looked quite a bit like his old self. I really think whomever gets Colon is going to end up getting a bargain on there hands.

I got to be honest, I'd hate a Swisher for Bedard deal. It would be the opposite of what I'd want considering Bedard would be long gone in a year.

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 12:23 AM) Yeah he is very good despite the WHIP and Rick Peterson has been wrong about him to this point. That said, I wouldn't want to be the team investing 5 years 90 million in him. I don't believe his health will hold up. Generally I wouldn't make the bet about a lot of pitchers except for the Jake Peavy's of the world. IIRC, didn't Peavy have some arm issues in the past? I think the type of guys I'd be banking on are the Joba Chamberlains of the world. I also love the hell out of Phillip Hughes mechanics (who knew he'd pull his hammy though). I love big pitchers who get a lot of there velocity from leg strength.

With a solid rotation this is a playoff contending team, no doubt about it. I'm guessing Kenny is going to go into the season hoping like hell that the solid starter or two are already on the roster by the names of Gavin Floyd/John Danks/Lance Broadway/Jack Ebert/Jose Contreras. They may or may not be, but if the Sox end up with 4 starters that throw around 200 innings and a 5th that somehow gives the Sox a semblance of a chance (even if it is every 10 days as opposed to every 5; ie he sucks balls half of his starts but gives them a shot the other half) and they would be contenders. Really the season is going to be tied to how accurate the Sox are when it comes to there young pitchers and Jose Contreras. Obviously other s*** could blow up in there faces, but the true question-marks and real areas of concern (on paper) are the 3/4/5 starters of the rotation and if they pitch up to there capabalities/tools you will be talking about the Sox as a playoff contender, maybe even more. The odds of that happening are probably slim, especially given everyone having serious doubts, given the fact that the Sox have had very few young starters succeed over the past 10 years, but hey, it could happen.

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 12:04 AM) quiet the big 10 fans must be sleeping....I would rather have Todd Reesing or Chase Daniels over Juice Williams any day of the week. Juice Williams blows. I'm a big 10 fan too, but he is so over-rated. He is a great talent and a horrid QB. Thanks to him and the one dimensional Illinois offense my Hawkeyes were able to get a win over the Illini. McGee is the better long term answer. Illinois is definitely heading in the right direction. They are getting the best talent in the country on a regular basis thanks to Zook. While Zook will never be a national champion coach, he has Illinois at a level they have never been at (I know Turner took them to a rose bowl, but they didn't recruit like this) and that alone will make them consistently competitive and for all you know at that point the Illini may be able to get another coach that could maybe bring them to the next level). But good god, Juice throws about as good as I throw and he is a far cry from Mike Vick in terms of athletism. I give him credit, but thankfully for Illini fans they had Mendenhall, Benn and a pretty athletic defense.

Yes, if things go smoothly I can switch jobs this summer and actually have work-life balance.

QUOTE(Sonik22 @ Jan 3, 2008 -> 10:08 PM) That movie is sooooo ridiculously good! I wish i saw it in theaters! I only own two dvd's, Black Hawk Down, and The Kingdom. So worth it. I didn't hear much about it when it was in theatres, I wanted to see it than but no one else I knew was too interested, so yesterday I was thinking holy s*** this is f***ing awesome the entire time I watched it.

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 12:00 AM) dont they lose a bunch on defense....and to be honest Colt Mccoy sucks. I could be wrong. I watch a couple Texas games a year because they are one of the few college teams I don't mind and I swear I heard the announcers say they will have most of there good players back and are going to be a title contender next year. I know USC will probably be #1 and Texas Tech/Mizzu will be top 10 when the season is done, imo. Big 12 will be the best conference in the country.

God damn those dumb f***ing turnovers. Jesus. What a piss poor loss. This team is like the Bears, they give you hope and build a lead and than choke like cheap whores down the stretch. They should be 5-0 under Boyland...instead 3-2.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jan 3, 2008 -> 01:13 PM) They played Indiana tough yesterday, but I guess if you give Iowa a few weeks, they'll become...well...Iowa again. It is so depressing how bad Michigan's program is come. Curse of Steve Fisher. That was because Justin Johnson went Reggie Miller on them. Iowa battles, but they flat out don't have the scoring to do s***. They wouldn't even win the WAC or some other lame ass conference.

Aside from Charles, isn't Texas practically returning everyone as well?